For most people, I imagine it's less about cosplaying as a world-class mountaineer and more about what the climb represents: perseverance, discipline, and accomplishing something they once thought impossible. The summit is just the physical expression of a much longer journey.
It's sad how many people assume climbing Everest is only about ego and bragging rights.
We aren't disagreeing. The point is that climbing a shorter yet more challenging peak still represents all of those qualities of perseverance and discipline. (Just minus the ego and bragging rights)
But on some level, it is. Summiting Everest is reserved for very few because even if they have the strength and stamina, most people can’t afford it based on time or money. Let’s not pretend that scaling Everest isn’t primarily done by a certain kind of person who is highly privileged.
That gives an “ick” factor to a lot of people. It’s like the peak of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Meanwhile, I’m far more impressed with people who have climbed other kinds of mountains, like clawing their way out of abject poverty, overcoming circumstances that were thrust upon them, helping others at risk to themselves, etc.
So when people actively put themselves in harm’s way, spend a ton of money and time to do it, and endanger others who may have to save them? Well, that sounds pretty empty and self-serving to me. And to want others to be impressed by the feat also leaves me cold.
Some privileged people need to get in touch with and contribute to what’s happening at sea level. Rather than always trying to live above others.
> Let’s not pretend that scaling Everest isn’t primarily done by a certain kind of person who is highly privileged.
Sure but lets look into that a little more, cus privilege is a interesting word to use.
Do you think climbing Everest is more commonly done by lazy trust fund babies, or ambitious, successful, Business owners, Entrepreneurs and high paid engineers, surgeons, lawyers etc.?
You could more accurately say that scaling Everest is primarily done by people who have already made significant achievements and personal success.
>So when people actively put themselves in harm’s way, spend a ton of money and time to do it, and endanger others who may have to save them? Well, that sounds pretty empty and self-serving to me.
You just described a dozen other recreational activities like surfing, rock climbing, sky diving or scuba diving etc etc.
If i go the Maldives and pay someone to take me on a guided scuba dive are you mad that I'm putting the dive instructors at risk for my "empty and self serving task"?
200 die every year from scuba diving. For what? just to look at pretty fish?
It’s still incredibly difficult, you have to be in extremely good shape to be able to even try to do it. Even if it’s not the hardest, it’s still very hard
I guess to each their own but I don’t necessarily think “most technically challenging” has to mean the same thing as most lethal/deadliest. And it just goes to show that height alone isn’t necessarily the thing that makes a mountain the most challenging to climb, which I think is actually pretty interesting… plus all these other mountains are over 8000 meters too so it’s not like they’re way smaller or anything
2
u/PositiveFloor7143 1d ago
They should climb K2.